Pulaski Skyway to be southbound-only during two years of repairs beginning in 2014

Drivers will be facing a two-year Super Bowl-sized hangover after the big game in February 2014 when the state Department of Transportation closes part of the Pulaski Skyway for repairs.

The northbound lanes of the Skyway, which flow east toward Manhattan, will be closed following the 2014 Super Bowl at nearby MetLife Stadium, allowing the DOT to make much-needed repairs to those lanes.

When that side of the roadway is complete, southbound vehicles will use the north lanes while the southbound lanes are repaired.

“We’ve been taking the band-aid approach for too long,” said DOT Assistant Commissioner Richard Hammer. “This is going to be a modern, safe and updated structure. We were lucky to get 80 years out of (the Skyway). It was overdesigned and we’re the benefactors of this.”

The DOT specifically scheduled the closure for after the Super Bowl to avert creating an even worse traffic situation with thousands of people expected to visit the area for the NFL showcase.

The bridge, which stretches more than 3.5 miles from Newark to the Tonnelle Circle in Jersey City, has been undergoing “quick fixes” since 2008, officials said. DOT project managers believe that shutting down part of the Skyway for two years will save time and money.

The repairs to the roadway are expected to cost $355 million. Had project managers gone with weekend closures, the project estimates rose to $571 million and 6 years to complete.

“Doing it this way allows us to get it all done quicker,” Hammer said.

The DOT is hoping that by announcing the closures now, drivers will plan ahead and begin to use alternate routes.

“With the Skyway closing, I expect the volume to increase,” Santos said. “The state will look at how to keep the traffic flowing, but I think it’s going to be a bottleneck. (The repairs) are a necessity. We’ll work with the DOT to manage traffic.”

Those seeking more information on the Skyway closure can visit www.pulaskiskyway.com, where the DOT has already set up a short survey to help drivers develop more alternative travel routes.